As posted on this other thread -- http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...tml#post937700
--- I had a few years ago mounted a HP camera to take road pictures every time the brake light circuit was activated. This proved to be a very useful tool for recording where and when we traveled. On some of those long trips, there is just so much demand on your concentration for proper route decisions, that many local visual memories are lost. The ARC takes quality pictures which make wonderful visual memories when viewed at random on the screen saver over the off season.

Over the past few weeks now I have sourced and installed an DVR in the Clipper to supplement the still camera.

The new DVR will normally be run only when on the road, but will have the option of running 24/7 if the situation might demand it.

With a 32Gig Micro SD card, the HD recording time before completing the loop is approximately 7 hrs. My plan is to purchase an additional 32Gig and maybe a 16Gig for rotation and backup. I will probably write some of the quality travel time to disc as these long exploring trips are going to be fewer now as each year passes.

As I gain more experience with this DVR I will post any tips I may have on use and improvements that might be made.

Installation applies to the Clipper, but may be of value to those who own other models.

The DVR is compact and light weight and mounts on the windshield glass or any smooth surface with a quality suction cup. I have mounted mine high on the drivers side windshield close to the center divider. The ARC is mounted in the same location on the passenger side of the divider. These are basically out of sight from the seated positions as they are behind the TV cabinet.

I have added two new 12V power plugs to the front surface of the TV cabinet facing the windshield which is out of sight as it is above the tinted glass line at the top of the windshield.

The power plug for normal driving use is wired to the ignition circuit that runs to the TV cabinet and overrides the TV when the ignition circuit is activated. The second power plug is wired to the existing Winegard amplifier plug located in the front upper storage cabinet on the passenger side and is HOT all the time.

Once the DVR is plugged into the ignition circuit and is programed to your preferences, it is a non maintenance item. It turns on with the ignition and records until the ignition is shut off. If I want to monitor the parked area that we are in, I just change the power plug to the 'always hot' and the DVR will continue to record.

I hope this DVR works out to be as simple to maintain as it first appears.

I will update as I get some miles and experience with the system.

Dave

__________________

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

Tour is going good, with the exception, we are running about a day behind planned schedule? Ferry overload wait and accident east of the Summit in Rogers have set us back over 8 hours of travel time. (oh, and another 4 hours as TGW had a winning run at the "Living SKY Casino'' so we could not go until she was broke?)

The new DVR is working well with little maintenance, but my ''ARC'' HP still cameras are maybe on their last legs. Both units are locking up after only a few captures. It has been hot and we are driving into the sun a lot on this trip trying to beat some of the heat of the later day.

I have one working again for this mornings run east of Virden.

Takes too long to upload video so this still shot will have to do!

Dave

Attached Thumbnails

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

The current tour is going well with the exception of my Road Camera that had worked flawlessly for the past 4 yrs or more. My system does work occassionaly after reset, but the total number of pictures are limited compared to previous tours.

This first shot is from Thunder Bay overlooking Lake Superior on Aug. 21.

Another on TCH #11 east of Longlac, Ontario.

And deep into the OTTAWA Valley at the Madawaska River

Dave

Attached Thumbnails

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

We had just merged onto HWY 417, east bound at Arnprior, when this new, single axle, tanker passed and returned early to the curb lane as there was traffic behind him in the fast lane.

Video shows, (at the 12 second mark) the tanker running over the mudflap with the driveside duals, and lifting it into the air. The flap was attached to the heavy metal homemade hanger that penetrated and imbedded itself in the fiberglass front cap on the CLIPPER.

I cannot see the obstacle in the video so I think it was being dragged under the tank truck and worked loose with the lateral movement from changing lanes.

This is the first real damage (sratches excluded) that the CLIPPER has experiensed. (It could have been worse!!!!!!!!!)

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

We were having a good day until ----------------------- We had just merged onto HWY 417, east bound at Arnprior, when this new, single axle, tanker passed and returned early to the curb lane as there was traffic behind him in the fast lane. Video shows, (at the 12 second mark) the tanker running over the mudflap with the driveside duals, and lifting it into the air. The flap was attached to the heavy metal homemade hanger that penetrated and imbedded itself in the fiberglass front cap on the CLIPPER. I cannot see the obstacle in the video so I think it was being dragged under the tank truck and worked loose with the lateral movement from changing lanes. This is the first real damage (sratches excluded) that the CLIPPER has experiensed. (It could have been worse!!!!!!!!!) Dave

We had a perfect day #46 for the fall colours in Algonquin Park as we travelled west with the morning sun on our back. The Park was very busy.

Dave

Attached Thumbnails

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

Some more ARC shots of northern Ontario, Sudbury thru to the Soo, TCH17, on day #47.

We had to delay departure out of Sudbury because of heavy fog in the morning, but the sun finally broke thru.

Dave

Attached Thumbnails

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

We crossed the Soo and travelled west on #28 on Monday, and on day #48 we passed thru Duluth and beyond to Crookston, ND.

Nothing unusual to report. Weather, roads, traffic, and information stops, were all great.

Dave

Attached Thumbnails

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)

Some ARC shots from Day #49, Wed., which saw us visting Devils Lake, and we had afternoon coffee in Rugby, ND, the geographical center of North America.

We carried on through Minot and on into Estevan, Saskatchewan to call it a day.

The weather was again great for travelling.

Its sugar beet harvest time and the CLIPPER and toad are camoflaged with a nice coating of ND field mud from the trucks hauling the harvest to the processing plants.

Dave

Attached Thumbnails

__________________

__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)